gillett



W. E. GILLETT.

CAR DOOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-7, 1915.

Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

3% eases J77 (Jeni waem- W. E. GILLETT.

CAR DOOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-7, 1915.

1.1 95,203. PzitentedAug. 22,1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. E. GILLETT.

CAR DOOR.

APPLICATION mzo AUGJ, 1915.

Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3.

W. E. GILLETT.

CAR DOOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-7,1915.

Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4- A I m 0 W. E. GILLETT- CAR DOOR.

APPLICATION FILED AueJ. 1915.

1 1 95 ,203 Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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' WILLIS E. GILLETT, OF WHITIIN'G, INDIANA.

CAR-DOOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2, 1916.

Application filed August 7, 1915. Serial No. 44,183.

To all, whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLIs E. GILLETT, a citizen of the United States, residing .at lVhiting; in the county of Lake and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car Doors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to movable closures and, while particularly adapted for use as a door for railroad cars used in transporting grain, it is not,.as will be readily understood, limited to such use, being applicable to numerous structures where a door having the functions about to be described is desirable. Grainis usually transported in ordinary box cars having sliding doors but, owing to the excessive weight of the grain when the car is filled, such doors can not be opened without injuring them and it is necessary to construct temporary doors extending to a point above the height to which the car is to be filled within the sliding doors. This is expensive and wasteful since the temporary doors are destroyed during the removal of the grain.

It is the object, therefore, of my invention to provide a two-part closure for openings, each of the parts of. which are separately and easily operable to open or close, as desired, and provided with means for rigidly clamping the closures in closed position to form leak-proof joints.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a door for freight cars and the like comprising a plurality of parts, each of which is movable laterally to clear the opening and one of which is movable vertically to provide an opening therebeneath through which grain and like materials may be withdrawn from the car.

A still further object of my invention is the provisionin a two-part door for freight cars and the like of means for locking the parts in closed position whereby sealing of. the door is readily accomplished, as well. as means whereby the lower portion may be moved vertically. with a minimum of effort.

These and other objects andadvantages of my invention will be better understood by reference to the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawing disclosing the preferred embodiment of my invention, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a portion of a railway car illustrating. the application of my improved closure thereto; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 41 is a vertical section on the line 4. 1 of Fig. 7 Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section on the line 55 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 66 of Fig. 7; Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. l but illus trating the closure partially open to allow material to be withdrawn from the'car; Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail in section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1; Fig. 9 is a plan view of the wear-compensating means for supporting the vertical eccentricsupporting shafts; Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail in section on the line 1010 of Fig. 1; Fig. 11 is an elevation, partially in section, illustrating a slightly diiferent form of wear-compensating means for the eccentric-supporting shafts; Fig. 12 is an enlarged horizontal section on the line 1212 of Fig. 1.1; Fig. 13 is a-detail in perspective of the lower end of the eccentric-supporting shafts; Fig. 1 1 is an elevation of the means for clamping the lower edge of the lower closure member;

. and Fig. 1.5 is a vertical section on the line 15-15 of Fig. 14.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in. thedrawings, I have shown the application of my improved closure to a standard steel frame car in which the frame members are indicated by the reference character 1 and the siding by the reference character 2. The frame is provided with an opening over which the closure is disposed.

The closure consists of an upper member 3 and a lower member 4-, the upper member being provided with a flange 5 (Fig. 10) which is slidably supported on a member 6 secured to one of the frame members 1, and is laterally movable to the position indicated in Fig. 7, a stop 7 being secured to the siding 2 to limit the movement thereof. The member 1 is slidably mounted on rollers 8 secured in brackets 9 fastened to the sill 10 of the car. A stop 7 is fastened to the side of the car to limit the lateral movement of the member 4 on the rollers 8.

At either side of the opening the brackets 11 are secured to the car and support the eccentric sleeves 12 (Figs. 9, 10) normally held in fixed position by set screws 13. A pair of shafts 14: are rigidly connected at either end to the sleeves 12 and, as will be readily understood, the shafts 1 1 may, by rotating the sleeves 12, be adjusted with respect to the frame members 1 surrounding the opening. Mounted on each of the shafts 14 are eccentric clamping members 15 having lugs 16 at either end thereof to surround the shafts 14. The clamping members 15 for the closure members 3 and 4, respectively, are independent, the upper members 15 which cooperate with the closure member 3 resting merely on the lower clamping members 15 which coiiperate with the closure member 4. The members 15 are each provided with arms 17 formed integrally therewith which pivotally support the operating levers 18, each having an opening 19 in the end thereof adapted to cooperate with a pin 20 fastened in any suitable manner to one of the levers 18, as indicated in Fig. 8.

.IVhen the clamping members 15 are disposed in clamping position, as indicated in Fig. 1, the levers 18 may be assembled on the pin 20 so that the closure may be sealed to prevent unauthorized access to the interior of the car. A flange 21 secured to the upper closure member 3 embraces the upper edge of the lower closure member 4 when the closure members are assembled in the position indicated in Fig. 1 to form a moisture-proof joint.

The lower closure member 4 is provided with lateral extensions 22 which are adapted to be engaged by levers 23 pivotally mounted at 24 on the sill of the car, whereby, when the clamping members 15 are released, the lowerclosure member 4 may be raised, as indicated in Fig. 7, to allow material to be withdrawn from the car, it being understood that the upper closure member 3 is first moved laterally until the flange 21 thereon clears the upper edge of the closure member 4. The levers 23 are provided with rollers .25 to engage the lower edges of the extensions 22 to reduce the friction therebetwcen and are further provided with a plurality of notches 26 to allow a purchase to be obtained with a suitable bar which may be inserted beneath the sill 10 of the car when the leverage of the levers 23 is not sufiicient to raise the closure member 4. The extensions 22 are further provided with a plurality of openings 27 and plates 28 and 29 are secured to the side of the car and provided with corresponding openings 30, so that by inserting a bar through the openings 27 and into engagement with the openings 30 the closure member 4 may be moved vertically or laterally as desired.

As an additional means to prevent unauthorized lifting of the closure member 4 and also to firmly clamp the lower edge of the closure member 4 into engagement with the frame members surrounding the opening, I provide a rotatable member 31 pivotally mounted on a stub shaft 32 secured to the sill 10 of the car and provided with a cam surface 33 adapted for engagement with a 7 notched. member 34 fastened to the closure member 4. An operating lever 35 is connected to the rotatable member 31 and serves to move the member 31. into the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 8, whereupon, as will be readily understood, the closure member 4 is firmly clamped in closed position and is prevented from vertical movement. A chain 36 is secured to the lever 35 and is provided at its end with a pin 37 which, when disposed through an opening 38 in the pin 20, may be sealed with a seal 39 of the usual form commonly employed with railway cars, the pin 37 serving at the same time to prevent removal of the operating levers 18.

To insure a tight joint between the closure members 3 and 4 and the frame surrounding the opening I provide gaskets 40 of rubher, or other suitable material, preferably secured to the frame and extending entirely about the opening. These gaskets may, of course, be omitted, if desired, but are preferably used for the reason noted. As an additional precaution I provide gaskets 41 se cured to rods 42 pivotally mounted on the posts 43 at either side of the opening, the gaskets 41 being normally disposed in slots 44 in the posts 43, as indicated in Fig. 6, and movable to the position indicated in Fig. 5, in which position, when the car is loaded with mobile material, such as grain, the gaskets 41 will be forced into the corners and will absolutely prevent leakage of material.

The mode of operation of my invention should-be apparent without further description of the structure thereof. When the car is to be filled with material, such as grain, the lower closure member 4 is moved to proper position to cover the opening and is clamped by rotating the lower clamping members 15 by means of their operating levers 18. The rotatable member 31 is also moved to the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 8 and, after arranging the gaskets 41 in the position indicated in Fig. 5, the ear is filled through the opening above the closure member 4. When the car has been filled the closure member 3 is moved to the position indicated in Fig. 1 and the upper clamping members 15 are rotated by means of the operating levers 18 to clamp the closure member 3. The operating levers 18 are assembled on the pin 20, the pin 37 is inserted and the seal 39 applied. When the car reaches its destination the seal is broken, the pin 37 and the levers 18 are removed and the upper clamping members 15 are released so that the closure member 3 may be moved laterally to the position indicated in Fig. 7. The lower clamping members 15 are then released and by applying suitable force to the levers 23 the closure member 4 may be raised to allow the grain to be withdrawn from the car. If the grain is in good condition it will run freely from the car without raising the 010- sure member 4 farther than is possible with the levers 23. It may, however, be necessary to raise the closure member 4 a farther distance and this is easily accomplished by inserting a bar, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, through the openings. 27 in the extensions 22 and into engagement with the openings 30 in the plates 28. When a sufficient quantity of the grain has been, removed to release the pressure against the interior of the closure member 4, the closure member 4 will drop ofits own weight and may then be moved laterally by inserting a bar through the openings 27 and into engagement with the openings 30 in the plate 29. The removal of the grain from the car may then be completed.

In Figs. 11 to 13 of the drawing I have illustrated a slightly different arrangement of the eccentric-supporting shafts whereby the shafts may be adjusted to take up the wear of the eccentrics. Referring to the drawing, 45 indicates a metal plate secured in any suitable manner to the car frame and provided with an opening 46 adapted to receive the upper end of the shaft 14 which supports the eccentrics 15' in the manner previously described. Secured to the sill side of the car by raising it sufliciently to lee 10 of the car is a bracket 47 having an outwardly extending portion 48 provided :with a squared opening 49. The lower end of the shaft 14 is squared, as indicated at 50, the squared portion being eccentric with respect to the axis of the shaft. As will be readily understood, the lower end of the shaft 14 may be adjusted relatively to the free the squared portion 50, turning the shaft 14 and reinserting the squared end 50 in the opening 49. Since the greatest amount of wear will occur in the eccentrics l5 cooperating with the lower closure member 4 sufiicient adjustment may be obtained by the use of the simple mechanism hereinbefore described.

In Figs. 14 and 15 of the drawings I have illustrated a slightly different arrangement of the means for clamping the lower edge of the closure member 4 in closed position and for preventing .vertical movement thereof. The lower closure member 4 is provided on its inside face adjacent the lower edge with a wedgeshaped batten 41 while the floor 52 of the car against which the closure member 4 is forced when in closed position is chamfered, as at 58. Mounted on a stub shaft 54 secured in the bracket 55 carried by the sill 10 is a rotatable member 56 having a cam surface 57 disposed adjacent the face of the closure member 4. A lever 58 is secured to the rotatable member 56 and by rotating the member 56 by means of the lever 58 the cam face 57 will clamp the closure member 4 and the batten 51 into the position indicated in Fig. 15, this insuring against vertical movement of the door as well as preventing leakage of material from the car. A chain 59 is connected to the lever 58 and is provided with a pin 60 which may be used to lock the operating arms of the eccentric clamping means in the manner previously described.

It will be understood from the foregoing that I have perfected a closure of general application which is particularly useful where conditions are to be met such as are present in railway cars used for the transportation of grains and like materials. My closure is of simple construction but provides nevertheless means for securely closing an opening in such a manner that unauthorized access to the material within, the car is prevented, and provides also for easy access to and removal of the material from the car at its destination. The construction of the closure is such that it may be operated by 1111- skilled persons, such as are commonly employed in this character of service, without danger of the destruction of the mechanism by careless or malicious rough treatment which is commonly given to railway cars.

It will be obvious that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A closure for cars and the like, comprising a frame, upper and lower members slidably supported on said frame and each adapted to move laterally, a pair of shafts fixedly secured to said frame, independent eccentric means mounted on each of said shafts and adapted to independently engage and clamp said members against said frame, means on said upper member coiiperating with said lower member to prevent lifting thereof until said upper member has been moved laterally, and a pair of levers pivotally mounted on said frame for lifting said lower member when released from said upper member.

2. A closure for cars and the like comprising a frame, upper and lower members slidably supported on said frame and each adapted to move laterally, a pair of shafts fixedly secured to said frame, independent eccentric means mounted on each of said shafts, levers for operating said eccentric means to cause the latter to independently engage and clamp said members against said frame, means on said upper member cooperating with said lower member to prevent lifting thereof until said upper member has been moved laterally, a pair of levers pivotally mounted on said frame for lifting said lower member when released from said upper member, lateral extensions on said lower member, each having a plurality of openings therein, and plates secured to said frame provided with corresponding openings to be engaged by a lever inserted through the openings in said extensions.

3. A closure for cars and the like comprising a frame, upper and lower members sliding a frame, a pair of independent members slidably supported 011 said frame and each adapted to move laterally, a pair of shafts fixedly secured to said frame, and independent eccentric means mounted on each of said shafts and adapted to respectively engage and clamp said members against said frame.

5. A closure for cars and the like comprising a frame, a pair of independent members slidably mounted one above the other on said frame and each adapted to move laterally, a pair of shafts fixedly secured to said frame,

independent eccentric means mounted on said shafts, levers for operating said eccentric means to clamp said members against said frame, lateral extensions on said lower member, each having a plurality of openings therein, and plates secured to said frame provided with corresponding openings to be engaged by a lever inserted through the openings in said extensions.

WVILLIS'E. GILLETT. lVitnesses:

ERNEST H. MERCHANT, M. A. KIDDIE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

